Pipe or tube mill



Jan. 24, 1939. w. LONG PIPE OR TUBE MILL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1958 NM hm lmveizfait' Lou/6 W Lp/vg w. LONG I PIPE OR TUBE MILL Filed Feb. 4, 1958 Jan. 24} 1939.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1720 76502:- 0/5 W Lo/va Jan. 24, 1939. w. LONG PIPE 0R TUBE MILL Filed Feb. 4, 195B 6 Sheets-Shet s FIGS.

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Jan. 24, 1939. L w LONG 2,145,184

PIPE OR'TUBE- MILL 7 Filed Feb 4,1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 205 M5 1?! f I lmeizfai': LOU/6 W. Lo/vai,

6 Sheets-Sheet 6- 1760972107: LOU/6 l V. Lo/vc L. w. LONG PIPE, OR TUBE MILL Filed Feb. 4, 1958 Jan. 24,1939.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE on TUBE MILL,

Louis W. Long, Lorain, Ohio, assignor to Na-- tional Tube Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February 4. 1938, Serial No. 188,743 I 2 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe or tube mills and, more particularly, to the handling of the mandrel employed therein. Pipe or tube mills of the type to which applicant'sinvention apthe latter is withdrawn from the interior of the work-piece and kick-up arms actuated to translate it from the mill onto a suitably disposed skidway or other conveying device.

n very large mills, for instance those which produce work-pieces of 20 inches in diameter, the elongated bar, or so-called mandrel-bar, and its carriage weigh over 16,000 pounds and are moved into position at a rate of approximately 500 feet per minute. In producing thin-walled work-pieces, the mandrel on theend of the mandrel-bar must be positioned very close to the power-actuated working-rolls of the mill, and if permitted to over-run its true working position, will occasion considerable damage to the rolls and numerous other parts of the mill.

The work-piece must be completely rolled in a minimum of time if a substantial commercial yield from the mill is to be maintained. This, of course, requires the rapid withdrawing and repositioning of the mandrel-bar.

- It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an efficient and inexpensive apparatus for manipulating the mandre1-bar of a. pipe or tube mill in a manner which is not only rapid but one which also eliminates damage to the component elements of the latter.

The foregoing and other objects will be apparent after referring to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of a pair of cone-shaped power-actuated metal-working rolls together with an intermediately disposed man- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but dis-- closing a mandrel-bar-and the mandrel carried thereby in the usual overrun position which occasions the injurious results which the invention seeks to eliminate;

. 5 Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the remote end of the outlet bed of Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on line VI-VI of Figure .5;

Figure 7 is a plan of the invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are wiring diagrams; and, l

Figures'lO through 15 are details of the dia- 10 apparatus of the gram of Figures 8 and 9, being individual switches employed therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate a pair of coneshaped power-actuated metal-working rolls toward which there is extended a compression 2 mandrel-bar 4 carrying a mandrel-plug 5 which is disposed intermediate the rolls. After a-pipe or tube has been completely rolled between the attached to a mandrel-bar carriage 8 which rides on an elongated frame 9 forming part of the outlet bed of the mill.

Referring to Flgure5 of the drawings. a vertical frame It) is disposedadjacent the elongated. frame 9 forming part of the outlet bed of the mill at a position adjacent the position of the mandrel-bar carriage 8 when the latter is in its forward or true working position. A shaft I2 is horizontally supported by the'ver-- tical frame It] immediately above the elongated frame 9. This shaft I2 carries a rotatable latch l3 having a flattened portion i4 on-its extended end. The upper surface of the mandrel-bar carriage 8 is provided with an abutment plate 15 having a flattened face 16. At one side of the upper end of the vertical frame I, there is dis-.

posed a fluid-actuated cylinder H, the piston of which is plvotally connected as at I8 to a crank l9 which is connected to the latch 13.

According to the foregoing construction and arrangement of elements, it will be seen that the deenergization of the fluid-actuated cylinder ll will permit the lowering by gravity of the latch I3 in such manner as to present its flattened surface I4 for contact with the flattened surface I8 of the abutment plate- M5 on the mandrelbar carriage 8. While in its lowered position, the latch I3 'will prevent the displacement of the mandrel-bar carriage 8 by the thrust of the work-piece as it passes over the mandrelplug 5. The energization of the fluid-actuated cylinder I-1, after the telescoping of the workpiece onto the mandrel-bar 4, will raise the latch I3 and permit the rearward movement of the mandrel-bar carriage 8 in a manner to be later described.

Referring to Figures 6 and '1, the outlet bed of the mill, which comprises the elongated frame 9, is provided with a pair of substantially spaced grooved pulleys 22 and 23. A cable 24 is strung between the pulleys 22 and 23 and connected at its ends to-the mandrel-bar carriage 8. Thus, the driving of either of the pulleys 22v or 23 will move the mandrel-bar carriage 8, the mandrelbar 4- and the mandrel-plug 5 toward and away from the metal-working rolls 2 and 3 of the mill, for the purposes previously mentioned.

According to the teachings of the present invention, and referring more particularly to Figures 6 and '1 of the drawings, an electric motor 28 is disposed adjacent the elongated frame 9 of the .outlet bed of the mill with its shaft 21 parallel with but spaced from a shaft 28 to which'the pulley 23 is suitably secured. The shaft 21 of themotor. 28 is connected to the driving shaft 29 of a speed reducer 38 by means of a suitable coupling 3|. of the speed reducer 38 extends at right angles to the" shaft 29 thereof and carries a spider 33 which is connected thereto through a magnetic clutch generally designated at 34.

The spider 33 carries a brake wheel 38 forming part of a magnetic brake generally indicated at 31, and is connected to the shaft 38 of an aligned electric tor- 39. The magnetic brake 31 is, in all-re 0 ts, conventional, being actuated for application by a spring and released against the resistance of the spring by a magnet. It will be noted that the electric motor 39 is considerably larger than the electric motor 28 and is intended to produce considerably more power. The other end of the shaft 38 of the electric motor 39 is connected to the driving shaft 48 of a speed reducer H by means of'a suitable coupling 42. The driven shaft 43 of the speed reducer 4I extends at right angles with respect to the driving shaft'48 thereof and is connected to the shaft 28 carrying the pulle 23 by means of a suitable coupling 45.

It will be noted that the actuation of either the electric motor 28 or the electric motor 39 will result in the rotation of the shaft 28 carrying the pulley 23 to accordingly move the mandrel-bar carriage 8, providing, of course, the latch I3 is not in a position to lock the mandrel-bar carriage against movement awayvfrom the mill.

Any suitable and conventional electric wiring circuits, including control devices, may be provided for the various'electrically operated instrumentalities.

In operation, a tube A,"which is shown as having previously been pierced, is introduced between the metal-working rolls 2 and 3 for movement over the mandrel-plug 5 on the forward end of the mandrel-bar 4. The tube A is moved over the mandrel-plug 5 and mandrel-bar 4- by the helical advancing action of the metal-work- 'I'he driven shaft 32 ing rolls 2 and 3. As soon as the trailing end of the tube A has moved over the mandrel-plug 5 and over the mandrel-bar 4 the fluid-actuated cylinder I1 is energized to raise the latch I3, and the motor 39 is suitably actuated (automatically or otherwise) to rotate the pulley 23 in such manner as to withdraw the mandrel-bar carriage 8 along the elongated framek9 .sufficiently to remove the mandrel-bar 4 from the interior of the tube A and permit the mandrelplug 5 to drop. The usual kick-ofi devices (not shown) are then actuated to translate the tube A from the outlet bed of the mill and permit it to roll down the skidway 8.

bar carriage 8 to a position which proximate but short of its initial position. At this time the motor 39 is deenergized, together with the magnetic brake 31 which applies the latter to the brake wheel 38, thereby stopping the motor. The magnetic brake 31 is then energized, together with the smaller electric motor 28 and the magnetic clutch generally designated at 34. This permits the electric motor 28 to operate through the speed reducer 38 to rotate the pulley 23, and accordingly move the cable 24,- at a slow speed, a distance which is suflicient to restore the mandrel-bar carriage 8, mandrel-bar 4, and mandrel-plug 5 to their initial working positions. The electric motor 28, magnetic clutch 34 and magnetic brake 31 are then deenergized. The fluid-actuated cylinder I1 is then deenergizeo to lower the latch, I3 into contact with the fiattened surface I8 onthe abutment plate I5 on the mandrel-bar carriage 8. V

The metal-working rolls 2 and 3 are, at this stage of the operation, ready to receive the pipe or tube A and advance the same helically over the mandrel-bar 4 and mandrel-plug 5 which are now returned .to their initial metal-working positions in the manner previously described.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, I have illustrated one form of electric circuit which may be utilized to operate the devices of the invention in the manner previously described. In this diagram, the numerals I88 and I-8I- designate a pair of suitable main power lines carrying mill voltage, such as 230 volts D. C., and normal voltage is applied to the shunt field I of the motor 28. The numerals I88 and I81 designate a pair of control electric lines which carry voltage suitable to operate the control devices hereinafter referred to. t

The mandrel-bar carriage 8 operates a .re-

verse limit switch I88, a reverse slow down limit switch I89 which reduces its rearward .speed when in its proximate rearward position, a forward limit switch H8, and a forward slow down limit switch III which reduces its forward speed when in its proximate forward position.

The latch I3 operates two limit switches, as shown at'II2 and 4. a

The operator's pulpit is provided with a master controller II1, a foot-operated switch I91 and the usual control (not shown) for the fluid-actuated cylinder I1 for the -latch I3 which holds the mandrel-bar carriage 8 in its forward posi -tion. r

With the mandrel-bar carriage 8 in its extreme rearward position (thatis, with the mandrel-bar 4 and mandrel-plug 5 fully withdrawn from the metal-working rolls} and 3), the contacts I88 7 and I08 of the reverse limit switch I09 are open; the contacts I09 and I 09" .of the reverse slow down limit switch I09 are open; the'contacts III)- and II of the forward limit switch IIO are closed; and the contacts hand I II of the for- .ward slow down limit-switch I I I are closed.

The latch I3 is now in the down position, thus the contacts I I2 and I I2 of the latch limit switch From the line I01 through the master controller contacts H9 and I2I, the contactsl23 and the main line contactor coil I25 to the line I09. This closes the main line contactor I25 energizing the shunt field I21 from the line I 0| to the line I00;

, from the line I01 through the master controller contacts H9 and I29 through the closed contacts 0* and IIO of the forward limit switch I I0, the closed reverse interlock contacts I3 I, and the parallel connected forward contactor coils I33 and I35 to the line I09. This closes the forward contactors I33 and I 35. With the forward contactors I33, I35 and main line contactor I25- closed, a circuit is established from the line IOI through the starting resistance I31 for the large motor.39, the large motor series field I39, the armature I4I of the large motor 39, and the series coil I43 of the magnetic brake 31 to the line I00.

This releases the magnetic brake 31, and the large motor 39 starts to drive the pulley 23 to thereby move'the mandrel-bar carriage 8 forwardly toward the metal-working rolls 2 and 3.

Whenthe forward contactors I33 and I35 are closed, their interlock contacts I33 and I35 open, and-the interlock. contacts I35 close. With the closing of the interlock contacts I35 a circuit is established from the line I01 through the arma- "ture shunt contact'cr .coil I45, the closed contacts III and III of the forward slow down limit switch III, to the line I05. This energizes the armature shunt contactor coil I45which opens a pair of spring-:closed contacts I45 and removes the armature shunt resistance I41. With the interlock contacts I35 closed, a circuit is also established from the line I01 through the master controller contacts I I9 and I49, 'a dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I to the line I09. This energizes the dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I and its contacts I52, I53, I54 and I55 to slowly start to close. As the dash-pot accelerating relay contacts I52, I53, I 54 and I55 slowly close they successively establish circuits from the line I01 through the dash-pot accelerating relay conv I09 respectively.

the mandrel-bar carriage 8 forwardly toward the metal-working rolls 2 and 3 at maximum speed. I

As the mandrel-bar carriage 0 moves forward-' 1y, a projection I59 carried thereby strikes the operating levers-of the reverse limit switch I09 and the reverse slow down limit switch. I09, thus closing the contacts I08 and I09, and I09 and The large motor 39 continues to drive themandrel-bar carriage 8 forwardly at maximum speed until the projection I59 strikes the operating lever of the forward slow down limit switch III, thus opening the contacts III and III. This breaks the circuit to the dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I and the armature shunt contactor coil I45. The dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I being deenergized opens its contacts I52, I53, I54 and-I55, thus opening the circuits to the dash-pot accelerating contactor coils I52, I53, I54 and I55. Thesecoils, being deenergized, open the contacts I52 I53 I54 and I55, thus inserting the starting resistance I31 in series with the large motor 39. The armature shunt con-J tactor coil I45 being deenergized, its spring closed contacts I 45 close, thereby applying the armature shunt resistance I41 to the armature I of the large motor 39. The combined effect of inserting the starting resistance I 31 in series with the large motor 39 and the armature shunt resistance I41 across the armature I4I slows down the motor 39 and yet gives it sufficienttorque to continue to slowly drive the mandrel-bar carriage 9 forwardly.

The large motor 39 continues to slowly drive the mandrel-bar carriage 8 forwardly until the projection I59 strikes the operating leverof the forward limit switch H0 and opens the contacts IIII and H0 At the same time the mandrelbar carriage 8 strikes the latch I3, lifting it, and closing the contacts H2 and H2 of the latch limit switch H2. The forward limit switch II 0,

being open, breaks the circuit to the forward contactor coils I33.and I35, which opens their contactors I33 and I35 thus opening the circuit to the large motor 39 and the magnetic brake 31. The magnetic brake 31 closes, thereby stopping the large motor. Also operated by the forward contactor coils I33 and I35 are the interlock contacts I33 and I35 which close, and interlock contacts I35 which opens.

The latch limit switch I I4, now being closed, establishes a circuit from the line I01 through the master controller contacts H9 and I2I, the forward interlock I33 the reverse interlock I", a timing relay coil I13, and the contacts H4 and II4 of the latch limit switch] I4 to the line I06, thus energizing the timing relay 'coil I13. After about one second the timing relay coil I13 closes the contacts I13 and the contacts I13". The

contacts I13 establish a circuit from the line IOI through the resistance I15 of the magnetic brake 31 to the line I00, thus energizing and releasing the brake. The contacts I13 also establish a circuit from the line IOI through the coil'of the magnetic clutch 34 to the line I00, energizing and engaging the clutch, thereby mechanically connecting the small motor 26 to the shaft 38 of the large motor 39 through the clutch 34 and the gear reduction 30.

The contacts I13 of the timing relay coil I13 establish a circuit from the line I01 through the master controller contacts I19 and HI, the forward and reverse interlock contacts I33 and I1I,

energizing the forward contactor coils I83 and I85 which closes the contacts III3 and I85 and opens the interlock contacts I83 Thus a circuit is established from the line IOI through the contacts I19, the starting resistance I81 of the small motor 26, the contacts I85, the armature I89 of the small motor 26 and the contacts I83 to the line I00. The small motor 26 starts to drive the mandrel-bar carriage 8 slowly forward through the gear reduction 30, and the magnetic clutch 34.

The contacts I13 also establish a circuit from the line I01 through the master controller con-" tacts H9 and I49, and a time delay accelerating contactor coil I9I to the line I06, thus energizing the time relay accelerating contactor coil I9I which in about second closes contacts I9I and interlock-contacts I9I -The interlock contacts I9IP parallels an accelerating contactor coil I93 with the time delay accelerating contactor coil I 9I, thus energizing the accelerating contactor coil I93, which, in about second, closes the contacts I93; The starting resistance I81 01' the small motor 26 is thus shorted-out in two steps, and the armature I89 of the small motor 26 is now across the line.

The small motor 26 continues to drive the mandrel-bar carriaga8 forwardly until the operating position .is reached, at which point the latch I3 drops into position. This opens the con- 1 tacts H2 and 2 and H4 and II4 of the latch limit switches H2 and H4, respectively. When the contacts H4 and I I4 of the limit switch II4 open they break the circuit to the timing relay coil I13 which immediately opens its contacts I13 and I13. The contacts I13, being open, breakthe feed to the contactor coils I19, I83, I85, HI- and I93 which, in turn, opens contacts I19, I83, I85, I 9I, I9I and I93, and closes the contacts I23 and I83. These contacts open the circuit to the small motor 26. The contact I13, bein open, breaks the circuit to the magnetic clutch 34 and the magnetic brake 31, thereby disengaging the clutch and applying the brake to stop the mandrel-bar carriage 8.

Should the operator desire to advance the mandrel-plug 5 beyond this point for measurement purposes, he may do so by pressing a foot switch I91. This establishes a circuit around the latch limit switch I I4 and starts the small motor 26, as previously described. It continues in the forward direction as long as the foot switch I91 is closed and the master controller H1 is in the forward position A 4 t In order to move the mandrel-plug 5 back from this position to the operating position (that is, with the mandrel-bar carriage 8against the latch I3), the operator throws the master controller II1.to the reverse position and closes the foot switch I91. This starts the" small motor 26 in the reverse direction, as described, except that reverse contactor coils I99 and 20I and contacts I99, I8I-and 20I are used in place of the forward contactor coils I83 and I85, and contacts I83, I83 and I85, respectively. The mandrel-bar carriage 8 continues to be driven backwardly by the small motor 26 as long as the foot switch I91 is closed and the master controller is in the reverse position. v

After the work-piece is rolled, the operator energizes the fluid-actuated cylinder I1 to. lift the latch I3, thereby closing the contacts H2 and] H2, and I I4 and I I4 of the latch limit switches H2 and 4, respectively. At thesame time the operator throws the master-"controller III to the reverse position, thereby ing circuits:

establishing the follow- From the line I01 through the master controller contacts I I9 and I21, contact I23 and contactor coil I25 to the line I06, thus closing the contacts I25, and energizing the shunt field I21 from the line III to the line I00.

From the line I01 through the master controller contacts I I9 and 203, theclosed contacts I08 and I08 oi the reverse limit switch I08, contacts I", the parallel connected coils 205 and 201, and the closed contacts H2 and H2 of the latch limit switch I I2 to the line I 06, thus closing the contacts 205, 201, 205 and opening the interlock contacts I3I and "I. With the contacts I25, 201 and 205 closed, a circuit is established from the line IOI through the starting resistance I31, series field I39 of the large motor 39, reverse con.- tactor 201, the armature I of the large motor 39, reverse contactor 205 and magnetic brake -31 to the line I00. This releases the magnetic brake 31, and the large motor 39 starts to drive the mandrel-bar carriage 8 away from the metalworking rolls 2 and At the time the reverse contactors 205 and 201 closed, their interlock contacts I3I and "I opened and 205 closed. With the contacts 205 closed, a circuit is established from the line I01 through the armature shunt contactor coil I45, and the reverse slow down limit switch I09 to the line I06, thus energizing the armature shunt contactor coil I which opens the spring-closed contacts I45. This removes the armature shunt resistance I41. With the contacts 205 closed, a circuit is also established from the line I01 through the master controller contacts H9 and I49, dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I, and the contacts I09 and I09 of the reverse slow down limit switch I09 to the line I06, thus energizing the dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I whereby its contacts I52, I53, I54 and I slowly start to close.

As the dash-pot accelerating relay contacts I 52,

I53, I54 and I55 slowly close, they successively establish circuits from the line I01 through the dash-pot accelerating contactor coils I 52, I53, I54 and I 55 to the line I06. This successively energizes the dash-pot accelerating contactor coils I52, I53,r I54 and I55 which close the contacts I52, I 53 I54 and I55"; thus shortingout in steps all of the starting resistance I31. The large motor 39 now has line voltage applied to it and drives the mandrel-bar carriage 8 back irom the metal-working rolls 2 and 3 at maximum speed.

As the mandrel bar carriage 8 moves backwardly, the projection I 59 again strikes the operating levers of the forward limit switch H0 and the forward slow down limit switch III, thus ificlosing the contacts H0 and II0 and I I I. and

The largemotor-39 continues to drive the mandrel-bar =carriage 8 backwardly until the projection I59 strikes the operating lever of the reverse slow down limit switch I09, thus reopening the contacts 109 and M9". This breaks the circuit to the dash-pot accelerating relay cofl I 5| and the armature shunt contactor coil I45. The dash-pot accelerating relay coil I5I, being deenergized, opens its contacts I52, I53, I54 and I 55, thus opening the circuits to the dash-pot accelerating contactor coils I 52, I 53,, I 54 and- .I55. These coils being deenergized openthe contacts -I52P,"I53 I54, and IE5, thus inserting .the starting resistance I 31 in series with the large.

, motor 39. The armature shunt contactor coil I45, being deenergized, permits its spring-closed contacts ll! to close, applying the armature shunt resistance I" to the armature I of the large motor 39. The combined effect of inserting the starting'resistance I31 in series with the armature III of the large motor 39 and the armature shunt resistance I41 across the arma-' ture slows down the large motor 39 and yet gives it suihcient torque to slowly drive the mandrel-bar carriage 8 backwardly.

The large motor 39 continues to drive vthe mandrel-bar carriage 9 slowly backward until the projection I59 strikes the operating lever or the reverse limit switch I", thus reopening the While I have shown and described one specific embodiment oi my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof'the invention, as defined by thetollowing claims.

I claim: .1. A pipe or tube mill comprising, in-combination; a plurality of metal-working rolls, a man-' contacts I08 and I09". The reverse limit switch I99 being open breaks the circuit to the reverse contactor coils 295 and 201 which open the contacts 295, 291 and 205 and close the interlock contacts I3I and' Ill. The contacts 295 and 291 being open break the circuit to the large motor 39 andthe magnetic brake 91. The magnetic brake 31 closes and stops the large motor 39. The mandrel-plug 5 is now back in the original position and the control is now ready to start another cycle, as described.

For the backward travel of themandrel-bar carriage 8 with the large motor 39, the latch I3 'must be held in the up, or unlatched position, for the entire travel, thereby closing the contacts II! and I I2 of the latch limit switch H2.

Manual operation The operator can stop, start or reverse the large motor 39 at any point in the travel of the mandrel-bar carriage 8 between the two final limit switches III! and I09 by means of the master the foot switch Ill.

drel-bar carriage, a mandrel-bar mounted on said mandrel-bar carriage, a mandrel carried by said mandrel-bar, means for withdrawing said mandrel-bar carriage with respect to said metalworking rolls to thereby remove said mandrelbar and said mandrel from a rolled pipe or tube,

, said last-named means including a heavyvduty prime mover operable to return the mandrel to a position adjacent but spaced from its fixed working position between said metal-working. rolls, and a slower prime mover connected to and driv'--v ing through said first named prime mover for moving said mandrel from said spaced position into said fixed working position at a decreased rate of speed, andmeans for braking the drive of said prime movers.

2. A pipe or tube mill comprising, in combination, a plurality of metal-working rolls, a 'mandrel-bar carriage, a mandrel-bar mounted on said mandrel-bar carriage, a mandrel carried by said mandrel-bar, means for withdrawing said mandrel-bar carriage with respect to said metal-working rolls to thereby remove said mandrel-bar and said mandrel from 9, rolled pipe or tube, said last-named means including a heavy-duty prime mover operable to return the mandrel to a pos'i: tion adjacent but spaced from its fixed working position between said metal-working rolls, and a slower prime mover connected to and driving through said first-named prime mover for moving said mandrel from said spaced position into said fixed working position at a decreased rate oi speed, means for disconnecting said prime movers.

and means for braking the drive or said prime movers.

LOUIS W. LONG. 

